Seasons are Magical: They Change Your Life
By Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas)

Reviewed by Juanita Watson for Reader Views (4/06)
As we start to awaken from our deep sleep, we open up to living life more intentionally, more naturally, and more consciously with the rhythm of natural cycles. We begin to explore the cultures, traditions, and rituals of our ancestors. In "Four Seasons of Mojo," Stephanie Rose Bird has combined practices, beliefs, recipes, and wisdom from many cultures - African, American Indian, Caribbean, European Pagan, Australian Aboriginal, and the Far East - creating a well rounded inspiring guidebook for natural living.

Stephanie, a solitary green witch, hereditary intuitive, and contemporary rootworker, explains that each season carries with it a special magic that when accessed, can profoundly deepen our spiritual life. She starts with a chapter explaining tools that will be required for the various ceremonies, rituals, recipes, and practices, followed by a short section on herbs, gardening and harvesting/wildcrafting. Being an herbalist myself, she captured my interest right from this beginning and held me throughout.

"Four Seasons of Mojo" is separated into the four seasons, explaining the unique and inherent gifts within each cycle. Winter brings traditions of being indoors, introspection, and enjoying the company of loved ones - candles, Yule, natural remedies for immunity, winter dreaming. Spring wakes and opens us to new beginnings, and a renewed sense of life - spring cleaning (home and body), purification through incense herbs, and hair care. Summer conveys acceptance and expansion - herbal magic, enjoying the abundance of food, and love. Autumn inspires our creativity and remembrance - inward journeys, nurturing spirit food, and reflections on health.

"Four Seasons of Mojo" opened my eyes and spirit to some seasonal traditions that I hadn't heard of and some that I was in need of remembering. The variety of cultures that Stephanie touches on inspired me to expand my use of ceremony and broaden the diversity of how I honor myself, others, the earth, and the infinite creative energy.

Stephanie includes a list of very useful resources making ingredients and supplies accessible, and all the rituals and recipes in this book possible. It is springtime now and I am immersing myself in this particular section. I'm collecting the ingredients needed for the "Essence of Hara Ke" a potpourri recipe that is made to engage the rain goddess and inspire creativity, new beginnings and fertility. "Four Seasons of Mojo" also reminded me of the beauty of my friend and ally, Sweetgrass. I have been filling my home with the rich, sweet scent of this grass connected with the Lakota creation goddess Wohpe.

I have really enjoyed reading this book and will be referring back to it as the seasons progress throughout the year. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to deepen their spirituality by adding magic and mojo from ancient cultures and practices. The seasons are mystical and powerful - be willing to access this transformative energy and it will change your life!


Got My Mojo Working
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com)
"Got my mo-jo workin' but it just won't work on you.
Got my mo-jo workin', but it just won't work on you
I wan-na love you so bad
I don't know what to do
Got my mo-jo workin'..."
-- By McKinley Morganfield, Blues Composer/Singer

Blues songwriters in the African-American culture coined the term mojo, it means casting spells to gain someone's affection. In McKinley Morganfield's song, he used a love potion to obtain love from a particular woman, but it didn't work. According to Stephanie Rose Bird, writer, educator, visionary artist and contemporary root worker, by working roots on that woman he should have had her in his arms that night.

I love the style in which FOUR SEASONS OF MOJO is written. Bird divides each section by season and highlights specific holidays of several cultures. She illustrates the time of the season and the affect it has on our mood and behavior. Respective holidays require certain herbs coupled with specific tools and equipment to communicate definition, significance and continuity with society-at-large. She shares an eclectic wealth of information that is sometimes overwhelming to a neophyte, yet people still derive a connection with other cultures.

Her approach to the world of mojo is like taking a Home Economics class. One does not start cooking a meal without first choosing the appropriate meal for the occasion, the exact tools and an awareness of their purpose in preparing the meal to get the desired results. The author provides stories and recipes from other cultures to enlighten the reader and to promote research of the new recipes.

I applaud Bird for acknowledging the validity of "nature's prescriptions" in contemporary society. She has joined the ranks of others to remove the shame of being "natural" by educating herself in the art of being an herbalist. Her guide has shown that in the African-American culture, as other cultures, we share a bond with the earth and nature.

Lana Hooks
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Four Seasons of Mojo: an Herbal Guide to Natural Living
Four Seasons of Mojo: An Herbal Guide to Natural Living
By Stephanie Rose Bird
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (March 2006)
Pages: 229 - Price: $16.95

Review by Lee Prosser - leep@ghostvillage.com
Ghostvillage.com review

For a perspective on everyday Hoodoo in natural living and magick, Four Seasons of Mojo is memorable reading. Stephanie Rose Bird is a gifted writer whose knowledge of Hoodoo is extensive. She is a respected hereditary intuitive, contemporary rootworker, visionary, and solitary green Witch. Her background as a Witch is well-documented and she is a prolific writer.

This book is a precise and in-depth look at African and Hoodoo based crafts, recipes, rituals, herbalism, folklore, magick, and ethnobotany. Many remedies for good health through holistic approaches are given and shared with the reader. The book has eighteen chapters. There are four sections -- winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Each season has its own special charm and endearments. The reader will discover many things of practical help, and a hands-on approach to use. As an herbal guide to natural living, Four Seasons of Mojo is a pleasant and comfortable reading journey, one which readers will find intoxicating it is revelations. The spells in this book are invaluable and interesting to study for personal use.

Bird handles seasonal Mojo in a fine, literate manner. Her writing style is smooth, concise, and imaginative. Her instructions for casting individual spells are accurate.

Chapter Fourteen, "The Healing Garden," will be a useful reading experience, among others. In fact, every chapter in this book is an exciting reading trip all its own! There is much to learn from this book, and Stephanie Rose Bird shares her knowledge openly and freely with the reader in an honest effort to impart useful facts which will benefit the reader.

As a herbal guide to natural living, Stephanie Rose Bird's Four Seasons of Mojo is one of the best on the market. It is current, full of useful facts, and enjoyable reading.

Click here to buy this book now: http://www.ghostvillage.com/library/2006/lib_bird.shtml